Reconstruction of sea surface temperature series in the last 220 years by use of reef corals in Xisha waters, South China Sea

Abstract

On the basis of construction of the growth rate thermometers by use ofPorites Iutea from the northern part of the South China Sea and the hindcast sea surface temperature (SST) in the last 100 years, we reconstructed the SST series in the past 220 years in the Xisha waters and analyzed the characteristics of the climatic change of that period. The results show that the low and high SST changes in the last 220 years in the Xisha waters appeared in the stage and the quasi-periodic variation within the century scale. The range of annual SST variation in the interage was increasing. The SST values were slightly rising during the last 100 years.